By IANS,
New Delhi : Expressing displeasure with two candidates in Himachal Pradesh who violated the poll code, the Election Commission Tuesday asked the authorities to file a case against them.
The poll panel said that cases should be filed against Lok Janshakti Party’s (LJP) Keshab Chauhan and sitting MP and Congress candidate Chander Kumar – both fighting elections from Kangra constituency – for having more than four people accompany them when they filed their nominations.
The commission said in the case of the Congress candidate, an official had also requested his supporters to leave the office but they stayed there forcibly.
The two candidates were asked to reply by May 6 to the poll panel’s notice as to why action should not be taken against them for not complying with the instructions, but neither of them did so. Following this, the poll panel decided the matter on its own.
“…the matter was considered by the Commission ex-parte and it was of the view that you have compounded the lapse by not even responding to the opportunity afforded to you and hence the Commission has decided to convey its displeasure for the above lapse,” the Election Commission said in the notice sent to both the candidates.
The poll panel directed the returning officer in Kangra constituency to file cases against the two under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violating the Election Commission’s directions.